Opportunity: Fixed Term Research Associate at Kellogg Biological Station

The Evans Lab at MSU’s W.K. Kellogg Biological Station is seeking a research associate to examine shifts in microbial community composition and function in bioenergy cropping systems.

The research associate would contribute to two highly inter-related projects:

The first is the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, a large multi-PO and interdisciplinary project, of which one part is examining the potential of the plant-associated microbiome to sustainable enhance stress tolerance of plants in degraded lands. Work on this project involves investigations into the fundamental mechanisms that underlie plant-microbe interactions and implications of changing management regimes (e.g. fertilizer). The second project, MMPRNT (Microbial Mediated Perennial Rhizophere Nitrogen Transformations) is a multi-PI DOE-funded project at MSU that examines how the rhizosphere microbiome of perennial grasses influence plant nitrogen availability. This work leverages GLBRC sites, and overlaps in scope. The research associate could take advantage of powerful time series dataset of community composition already collected (with associated biogeochemical metadata), and interact with diverse array of high-caliber staff, research associates, and graduate students working on both projects. In addition to research and career development, a proportion of this position (5-10%) would involve coordination among the two projects (data management, pipeline standardization, communication, training), which would give the candidate looking for exposure to multi-PI projects, mentoring, and close interactions with several collaborative laboratories (including Shade, Bonito and Tiemann at MSU).

Required Degree

Doctorate

Minimum Requirements

A Ph.D. in an appropriate discipline is required, as is demonstration of strong written and oral communication skills.